Papers of John Adams, volume 21

From the Earl Wycombe

To Thomas Seymour

John Stockdale to John Adams, 3 March 1794 Stockdale, John Adams, John
From John Stockdale
Dear Sir Piccadilly, London March 3rd. 1794

I received your favour,1 and return you my sincere thanks for your condescention in complying with my request: the work is now published, and I hope it will answer my purpose; but of this I cannot be certain, but whether it does or not, I am equally oblijed to you.— War hurts my business much, and prevented me printing it in 4to.—

With this, you will receive a Copy, of which I beg your acceptance: the portrait is engraved by one of our first Artists; it pleases much many of your friends, as it is a most excellent likeness & well executed.—

I was much pleased with your Opinion relating to France, and so were several of our great Men, to whom I in confidence, shewed that part of your letter: the political Opinions of great and leading Men in all countries are very acceptable; the leading men in this, as well as yours, I am convinced mean well, though there are some very bad ones on both sides the Atlantic, and who would rejoice to see us at War again, but I trust & hope their hellish spirits will not be gratified, as it is much the interest of both Countries to be on the most friendly footing.— I shall at all times be much pleased to receive a few lines from you.—

Mrs. Stockdale desires her kind respects, and I beg you to present mine to the whole of your family—and in particular to your eldest Son, of whom I have the pleasure to hear a very favourable Account;—

I am / Dear Sir, / With the greatest respect & esteem, / Your Much Oblijed, and / Very Humle. Servt

John Stockdale 267

P.S. You will also receive half a Dozen Portraits of Mr. Adams, which will be very Acceptable to any of your Absent children.—2

RC (Adams Papers); addressed: “John Adams Esqr. / Vice President of / the United States, &c / Boston.”; endorsed: “Stockdale / 1794.”

1.

Of 12 May 1793, above.

2.

These portraits, not found, likely derived from the engraving that Stockdale printed on the frontispiece of JA’s Defence of the Const. , London, 1794, which drew on John Singleton Copley’s 1783 painting of JA ( AFC , 5:xvi–xvii).